Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-03-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFrom our Regular correspondcnt)

into history. Whatever may be said
Of the quality of its work, IL is n fact
that no previous Congress has equaled
II in the amount OF work accomplished.
II has presented more measures, passed
more bills, and had more bills vetoed
than any ether Congress in the history
OF the country. Among the important
bills passed by the present Congress are
the Interstate Commerce bill, the
Electoral Count bill, the Presidential
Succession bill, Mexican Pension, grant.
ing land In severalty to Indians, Cana
dim Fishery retaliation bill, bill re-
pealing the Tenure OF Office Act, and
one for the increase OF the Navy.
Congress failed to revise the tariff and
TO reduce the war taxes, which are
pouring sl0O, ,000, 900 annually into the
Treasury in excess of the legitimate
needs of the government. 1t is this
great surplus fund that has invited the
rapacious raids upon the Treasury that
have been made during the past four
years, and the past Congress was elected
to prevent this surplus accumulation by
reducing taxes. To continue this onor-
Gus and useless taxation is a neglect OF
duty so great as TO almost efface the
good which the pnst Congress has done.
The radical cure for tuch n state of
affairs as was seen during the closing
hours OF Congress cannot be found by
simply putting different representa-
tive at the head of the Committee on
Appropriations. Neither would it be
cured by distributing all the appropria-
tions among separate committees. The
real trouble about our system of legisla-
tion is that there is no head upon whom
the responsibility of failure can be Wis.,
tied. When Congress does not do its
duty, or performs its functions badly,
it is only the country that suffers.
When good legislation is enacted the
country is benefited, but the party and
men whose efficient work has passed
the bill are not rewarded. What we
need is a Cabinet responsiblel for legis-
lation. A constitutional amendment re
quiring members or the Presidents
| Cabinet to be members of one or the
other House of Congress, would do more
than any other measure to bring order
out of our legislative chaos. This is the
great reform which would bring the
Executive and Legislative branches of
our government into harmony and ia.
cilitate the work of both.
There is no new Cabinet Minister this
year. The bill to create Department
of Agriculture and Labor failed TO be-
come law, but such guardian of the
interests mentioned is demanded, and
the measure will no doubt be matured
next winter. 1t would seem, however,
that such department should be called
the Department of Industry, as that
name would be inclusive and compre-
hensive, capable of shelterIng all inter-
ests that yet need n representative in
the Presidents official family. This
bill has been pending in Congress for
years and was passed once before by
both branches, but was vetoed by Presi-
dent Arthur. Agriculturists generally
have petitioned for its passage of late
and it was thought Mr.. Cleveland would
not veto il.
1t has been just thirty eight years
since a Congress created new Execu-
tive Department. Our first President
began his administration with Cabinet
OF three members, the Secretaries of
State, Treasury and War. At the be.
ginning of his second term, however,
the Attorney General was added to his
official household, and later the Navy
Department was organized. The Cabi-
net then consisted of five members un-
til 1929, when the Postmaster General
was added. Twenty years later Con.
gress organized the last Department,
that Of the Interior, and Preti lent Tay-
lor made Thomas Ewing, of Ohio, its
first Secretary.
There has been a perfect pot.pourri
in the proceedings of Congress during
the past week. The calendars of both
Houses were exceedingly cumbersome,
and so much business of great impor
tance demanded attention that the
temptation to undue haste was irresisti
BILE.
While the matter of appointments ant
combinations is not in itsel sufficient
to bring about an extra session of the
Senate, it contributes to the influences
which may produce called session
Congressman never want an extra ses
sion, but the people of Washington al
ways do. 1t is to their interest for Con
gress to hang on as long as possible, anc
they would like for its sessions to b.
perennial Opinions respecting tn
presinent's power to appoint the Inter
state Commerce Commissioners durinJ
recess of the Senate are widely apart
The President thinks he has the righ
to do 30 and Senator Sherman agree
with him, as does also the Attorne,
, General. who has rendered an opinio,
and cited Attorney Generals Stanberry
Evarts, Williams, and Devens as precc
dents.
Bnt Messrs. Edmunds. Harris, Pugh
and other Senators Of prominence Dc
clare that the President has no shadoy
of Constitutional right to fill newl
created Office when the Senate is not ii
) session to give its advice and consent
/, They hold that his power in the matte
is limited 10 filling vacancies temporari
ly which may happen during the recess
The Capitol presented deserted ap.
, pearance yesterday as compared wit
the lively scenes of the last few days
: A few members sat at their desks wri,
ing or oulling out papers for preserva
tioD. The floors were Uttered with tori
paper and all the debris that had accum
ulated during the last protracted ses
sion. Already employees have begun t.
remove the worn carpets and prepar
the halls for renovation next year.
In the committee rooms member